Hearing screenings for newborn babies in developing countries are lacking or are not performed at all, according to RUB studies.
A study conducted by Prof. Katrin Neumann, head of the department of phoniatrics and pedaudiology at the St. Elisabeth Hospital in Bochum shows that the developing countries are still struggling to diagnose and treat hearing impairments among newborns. Her goal is to establish a worldwide hearing screening standard for newborn babies.
Together with an international team of colleagues, Prof. Newmann analyzed the status of hearing screening for infants from 151 countries. However, it is not done yet as some of the participating countries have not submitted their surveys, as reported by Medical Xpress.
However, the partial result shows that more than 50 percent of the participating countries have introduced newborn hearing test, although their methods were not able to meet the Western standards.
Furthermore, they have learned that the hearing screening is more efficient in countries where is is supported by the government. The study also confirmed that hearing impairment of newborn babies in underdeveloped countries are higher than what they are expected.
Prof. Newmann has a compilation of data basis that can be used in the advocacy of the standardization of hearing screenings at the World Health Organization (WHO). She has been working with the WHO as an expert in projects run by the organization since 2007, an article from AlphaGalileo said.
"In specialist circles, hearing impairments are often referred to as the hidden disease, because the disorder attracts only little attention. This is what I wish to change," said Prof Dr Newmann.
Early diagnosis and a therapy within the baby's first half year are important in order to ensure continuous treatment of hearing impairment in newborn babies. Treatments that were done during that period are particularly effective.
